Vertical bumper



Jan. 31, 1939. J. F. MCADAMS f 2,145,814

YERTICAL BQMPER v y Filed Sept. 18, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet l J. F. MCADAMS VERTICAL BUMPER Jan; 31, 1939.

2 Sheets-Sheetv 2 Filed Sept. 18, 1937 IMJ., fm-

Patented Jan. 31, 1939 vwirr-151D STAT-Eis PATENT OFFICE VERTICAL BUDIPER.' James F. McAdams, westlsoiewiue, .Masa-.assignor to A.1'S. CampbelLCo., .'Inc., vEast Boston,

Mass., a; corporation of Massachusetts' i Application September 18, 1937,2Se'rial No. .164,505 1s claim (ci 293-55.)

This invention relates zto vertical bumpers'for automotive'vehicles andthe object ofthe invention is to provide 'an improved construction -for supporting such a bumper on the horizontal @L bumper bar of thevehicle and .in particular,'in

itsimore speciiic aspects, to such -an arrangement permittingy the'verticabumper to be quickly moved away from its"normal position.

kMy invention iwill be well kunderstood by refm erence to 'the vfollowing'-d'escription of an illustrative rembodimentthereof shown rby way of example in the accompanying drawings, wherein lis a broken 'side elevation of the vertical bumper mounted fon 'the horizontal bumper bar, which latter appears .in section;

Fig-.l2 is 'a' rear view; Fig. 3 is a 'View similar to Fig. "2 Showing the lvertical bumper'm'oved from its normal position; Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4of' Fig. 2 on v a lar-ger scale;

' n* Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5vof Fig'. 4;

Fig.v6fis a'sect'ion on the line 6 6 of Fig. 2 ona larger scale; and *.Fi'g. '7 is a plan of a lock washer. "I'he ordinary bumper utilized on automobiles, v whether in' one or several parts, consists essentially `of a horizontally 'disposed bar of limited rvertical dimension extending vacross the width y rof the vehicle. Since automobiles differ in-height and since Veven in vehicles of thev same kind the relevation of the bumper abve'the road will vary in accordance with the load onthe vehicle springs, considerable `inconvenience and-damage is caused by the bumper o'f'one car passing above or below another or'interlocking therewith. yIt f has therefore become common to attach to the bumperbar vertical cross-pieces providing a surface of considerable 'height ordepth to engagethe f bumper -of another carand prevent such action. Such devices have been variously termed bumper guards, grille protectors and Y"vertical pumpers'. Especially when the vertical extent of such a Idevice is considerable, 'it may under 'some circumstances Vform an undesirable obr45k struction. Thus, by way of example, when attached t-o the Vrear `horizontal bumper it .mayv lie -in' thepath of the lidof the rear 'deck when vthe rlatter is opened.A I'he specific construction which I am'about to describe provides for quickly re- 50 leasing the vertical Ibumper Without completely detaching it so that itmay be swung down out ofv theway and be quickly restored to its normal operating position.

A'Referring Lto the drawings, andrstfto Fig. :1,

' Ithereshow thehorizontalbumper bar Il) of .an

automobile' to whichfis' secured iin such manner as `izo-permit it to be released 'and swung to the position'l shown in Fig., 3 a vertical impact-receiving body I'Ziwhichmay be in the form of a hollowfstamping vof attractive design' and which normally fis l'supported 'across the front face of the horizontal bumper I0 'as shown in Fig. 1 oi thelimwings, 'To so support the vertical bumper i2 :and to 'permit 'the'.movement desired there may be secured to the horizontal bar I0 ra hinge element and 'a 'latch-element cooperating respectivelly with :complementary elements carried by the vertical bumper 112. Herein the formerelements are "securedto the edges of the "horizontal bar Hl byfmeans disposed vat the rear of the same so that fthe rontiace "is substantially unobstructed. l In fthe-embodiment of the inventionshown, as bestlseen in ",Figs. 3 and 4, thelatch element may comprise fa generally L-'shaped stamping vI 4 havinga A"generally 'vertical arm disposed across the edgeoftle bumper bar `.IIJ andr which may be provided with the lateral webs or flanges I6 which 'aid in supporting the generally horizontal arm disposed' at the rear of the bumper bar l0, Tro'm which latter arm is drawn the sleeve I8 to passy andsupporta'vciamping bolt 20. Welded to theouteriace of the upper end of the upright arm*l is a plate 22, the lower portion of which is bent forwardly to provide the bill 24 of a. hook engaging the' edge of the bumper bar I0. This bill `may tbe s'tiflened'by a central expressed rib 26 as shown. 'I'he otherend of the plate 22 may project beyond the upright arm of part i4 and may-'be .ben't rearwardly `at `28 to provide a beveled `latch `'s't`ril` e'. t

1 The lower attachment which provides the hinge support, as best seen :in Figs. 1 and 6, may comprisea plate vcurled between its ends to provide hinge knuckles '30. The ends of the plate are"welded"together at 32 at lthe base of the knuckles and vthence/one end may diverge forwardly'itoprovidefthe bill 34 of ahook engaging the forward face' of t:the bumper bar I0, which likewise may bei stiffened by the expressed rib 36. The'other end-y extendingupwardly, provides the sh'ank'SB-of the hook and'is provided with a rear- -wardly directed .flange 40 pierced to pass the pandedhor riveted-into the opening in the flange llt, and, as indicated by the asymmetrical section of Fig. 6, it may be provided with at least one flat side to cooperate with a wall of the retainer to prevent it from turning when the bolt 20 is set up. It will be seen that the two parts may be applied to the edges of the bumper and securely clamped in position by setting up the bolt 20 which may conveniently be secured by a lock nut t3. They will fit to bumpers having considerable variations in widths and since only the edges of the bumpers are engaged on the forward face, the shape of the forward Vface cf the bumper need not be taken into account..V y A Herein the vertical bumper I2 is secured to the parts just described by cooperating 'hinge and` latch elements mounted on Va platev`5il Welded within the hollow of the body l2. 'The attachment of these cooperating elements .is preferably such as to provide. both for a Vertical adjustment and for an adjustment fore and aft of' the vehicle. Referring rst to the hinge connection, as best seen from Figs. 1 and 3, the plate 50 may be provided with a vertical slot 52 behind. which slides a nut 54 retained in position with freedom of vertical sliding movement but restrained from rotation by a suitable sheet metal cage 56 which maybe spot welded to the. forward-face of the plate 52. The central portion ofthe plate 50 may be odset as shown and the slot continued into the more or less horizontally extending portion of the saine and enlarged to permit the nut 5 to be dropped into the inneropen end of the cage 55 in which it may be retainedY by turning over a portion of the margin of the cage at 58 to restrict the. entrance opening. Abolt adapted to pass through and slide vertically in the slot 52 taps into the -nut 54 and'ts other end is formed with an eye received between the hinge knuckles 35 and adaptedpto receive the hinge pintle 62. The lower end of the vertical bumper is adjusted fore and aft of the vehicle or axially of the bolt by rotation of the latter, and vertical adjustment is provided by the. sliding movement of the nut 54 behind the margins of the slot 52. When the proper adjustment is obtained, the parts may be locked by means of the lock nut 64. Preferably thebolt 60 is provided with at sides fitting the corresponding opening of the lock washer @E shown in Fig. 7, the lock washer having arms 53 which may be bent after the adjustment is made, as shown in Fig. 6, forexample, to engage. a flat of nut 5t and the slot 52. v

The upper end of the plate,'as bestseenin Fig. li, may be provided with-a slot 52, a nut 54 and a retaining cage 56, in all respects like those at the lower end of the vertical bumper but reversed in position. A generally U-shaped latch carrier lll is secured by means of the bolt 12 which passes through the web or base of the U and taps into the nut 54, suitable axial adjustment being providedfor by spacers l, one of which may be constructed to serve as a lock washer. Pivoted to theflanges 'i6 of the latch carrier by means of the pivots 78 is a latch proper which in itself is ofY a generally U-shaped form having the rearwardly directed flanges 8D received between the flanges I6 and of such a wi-dth as to ...will be apparent from Figs. l, 2 and 4 of the drawlings, is so arranged that it may be encircled together with the upper portion of the vertical bumper i2 by a grasping hand to permit the latch to be rocked clockwise, viewing Fig. 4, to release the same from the latched position there illustrated.

I herein show a compressible rubber bumper 92 mounted on the central portion of the plate 55 and adapted to bear against the front of the bumper bar l@ and to be compressed in the latched position of the parts. A rm, non-rattling mounting for the vertical bumper is thus provided for.

Referring to Fig. 3, it may be noted that the attaching means illustrated provides for a very small projection ofthe strike element 28 above the upper edge of the horizontal bumper bar I0, Y Y

beneath the bumper it, thus not only clearing the space above that bar butV avoiding any objectionable projection to the right of it, viewing Fig. 3. yI am aware that'the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essentialL attributes thereof, and I therefore desire the present embodiment to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not'restrictive; reference. being had to the appended claims rather thanA to the foregoing description to indicate thescope of the invention.

I claim: Y f

1. A vertical bumper for automobiles compris- Ving a pair of hook members having forwarly facing bills to engage the edges of a horizontal bumper bar and Shanks disposed at the rear of the bar, means connecting the Shanks to draw the bills into clamping engagement with the bar, the backsV of the hooks having projecting portions, a vertical impact-receiving Vbody and means for securing it to said portions to position it at the front of the bar. Y

2. A lvertical bumper for automobles'comprising a pair of hook members having forwardly facing bills toengage the edges of a horizontal bumper bar and shanks disposed at the rear of the bar, means connecting the Shanks to draw the bills into clamping engagement with the bar, the backs of the hooks having projecting portions, a vertical impact-receiving' body and means for securing it to said portions to position it at the front of the bar comprising screws connected to one of the parts by means permitting vertical adjusting movement of their axes relative thereto. Y

3. A vertical bumper for automobiles comprising a pair of hook members having forwardly facing bills to engage the edges of a horizontal bumper bar and Shanks disposed at the rear of the bar, means connecting theV shanks to draw the bills into clamping engagement with the bar,

thev backs yof thevhooks havingprojectingportions, a vertical impact-receiving bodyand means rforsecuring itto said' portions to position;it'at the front of the bar comprising screws 4having a threaded connection with: the'bodyto-provide for longitudinal adjustment thereof andy attherear ends'means providing respectivelyfora hinging connection with one of the said parts` and a releasable latching connection with theother.

4. Avertical Vbumperforfautomobiles comprising a pair of hookv members--havlnggforwardly facing bills to engage the edges-of a Vhorizontal bumper bar and- Shanks disposed:Y at therear of the bar, means connecting the shanksto'draw the bills into clamping engagement with. thev bar, the Vbacks ofthehooks having projecting j portions providing respectively an element of a hinge and a latch strike, a vertical impact-ref ceiving body carrying adjacent one end a hinge 20 element to cooperate with the hinge element onthe hook member and adjacent the other end a latch to cooperate with said strike.

5. LA vertical bumper for automobiles adapted to be swingingly mounted transversely of a horizontal bumper bar which presents at its edges respectively a hinge element and a latch element comprising a vertical impact-receiving body havin g at its rear adjacent one end thereof a coopf yerating hinge elementand adjacent its other end ing at its rear adjacent one end thereof a cooperating latch element and adjacent its other end a threaded member mounted for movement longitudinally of the body, a cooperatingV threaded member providing for axial adjustment of the second relatively to the rst, means Vfor fixing rthe axial adjustment and a cooperating hinge element carried by said second threaded member. 6. A vertical bumper for automobiles adapted to be swingingly mounted transversely of a horif zontal bumper bar which presents at its edges respectively a hinge element and a latch element comprising a vertical impact-receiving body hava threaded member mounted for movement longitudinally of the body, a cooperating threaded member providing'for axial adjustment of the second relatively to the first, means for fixing l the axial adjustment and a cooperating latch `mating hinge element and adjacent the other lend a pivoted latch to engage with the first mentioned latch element, said pivoted latch including a lever portion projecting at the rear of the vertical body to be encircled therewith by a. grasping hand to move the latch from one position to Y another.

8. An automobile bumper construction comprising, in combination with a horizontal bumper barhaving projecting from the horizontal edges thereof respectively a hinge element and an element of a spring latch, a vertical impact-receiving body presenting rearwardly adjacent an end thereof a mating hinge element and adjacent the other end a pivoted latch to engage with the first mentioned latch element, said pivoted latch including a lever portion projecting at the rear of thevertical body to be encircled therewith by a grasping hand to move the latch from one position to another.

9. An automobile bumper construction com- `prising, in combination with a horizontal bumper bar havinglprojecting from the horizontal edges. thereof respectively a hinge element and a latch element, a vertical impact-receiving body presenting rearwardly adjacent an end thereof a mating; hinge element and adjacent the other end a cooperating latch element to engage with the first mentioned latch element and a compressible member mounted to lie between the bumper bar and thefbody in the latched position offthe bodyand in such position of the body being-under compressioni to exert a tension thereonfnormally tending yto separate the parts of the-engaged latch and being resisted thereby.

l; A- vertical bumper for automobiles adapted tobe'swingingly mounted transversely of a horizontal Vbumper bar which presents at its edges respectively a hinge element and a latch strike comprising a vertical impact-receiving body having at its rear adjacent one end thereof a cooperating hinge element and adjacent the other end rearwardly projecting upright flanges, a generally channel-shaped latch having its sides pivoted to said flanges and of a width to embrace the strike to permit its web to close behind the same.

11. A vertical bumper for automobiles adapted to be swingingly mounted transversely of a horizontal bumper bar which presents at its edges respectively a hinge element and a latch strike comprising a vertical impact-receiving body having at its rear adjacent one end thereof a cooperating hinge element and adjacent the other end rearwardly projecting upright flanges, a generally channel-shaped latch having its sides pivoted to said flanges and of a width to embrace the strike to permit its web to close behind the same, the web being cut away to provide an edge to pass over the strike, portions of the sides below said edge being flared outwardly and rearwardly to guide the sides of the strike in the closing movement.

12. A vertical bumper for automobiles adapted to, be swingingly mounted transversely of a horizontal bumper bar which presents at its edges respectively a hinge element and a latch strike comprising a vertical impact-receiving body having at its rear adjacent one end thereof a cooperating hinge element and adjacent the other end rearwardly projecting upright flanges, a generally channel-shaped latch having its sides pivoted to said flanges and of a width to embrace the strike to permit its web to close behind the same, the web being cut away to provide an edge to pass over the strike, portions of the sides below said edge being flared outwardly and rearwardly to guide the sides of the strike in the closing movement, the flanges having projections cooperating with said cutturned parts to form stops limiting the pivoting movement of the latch.

13. A vertical bumper for automobiles adapted to be swingingly mounted transversely of a horizontal bumper bar which presents at its edges respectively a hinge element and a latch strike comprising a vertical impact-receiving body having at its rear adjacent one end thereof a cooperating hinge element and adjacent the other end vrearwardly projecting upright flanges, a generally channel-shaped latch having its sides pivoted to said flanges and of a width to embrace the strike to permit its web to close behind the same, the flanges having projections providing stops for the sides of the latch to limit its pivoting movement.

14. A vertical bumper for automobiles adapted to be swingingly mounted transversely of a horizontal bumper bar which presents at its edges respectively a hinge element and a latch strike cornprising a vertical impact-receiving body having at its rear adjacent one end thereof a cooperating hinge element and adjacent the other end a pivoted latch having an edge to pass over and behind the strike and laterally and below the same outwardly and rearwardly parts to guide the sides of the strike in closing movement.

15. A strike element for attachment to the edge of a horizontal bumper bar for latchilng a swinging vertical impact-receiving body -thereto comprising a generally L-shaped plate having an arm to lie across the edge of the bar and an arm having means for engagement with a clamping device, a second plate secured to the first arm and having an inner portion diverging therefrom to form therewith a' hook to engage over the bumper edge and an outer portion extending beyond the first arm and inclined oppositely to the inner portion to form a bevelled strike.

16. A hinge element for attachment to a horizontal bumper for securing thereto a Vertical impact-receiving member comprising a plate bent centrally to provide hinge knuckles, the sides of the plate being united beyond the knuckles and extended in diverging relation, one providing the bill of a hook to engage the edge of the horizontal bumper bar and the other providing the shank of the hook and' being terminally bent to provide a retainer for a nut.

JAMES F. MCADAMS. 

